// There was a decorated general witha heart of gold, that likened him toall the stories he toldof past battles, won and lost, andlegends of old a seasoned veteran inhis own time

on the battlefield, he gainedrespectful fame with many medalsof bravery and stripes to his namehe grew a beard as soon as he couldto cover the scars on his faceand always urged his men on

but on the eve of a great battlewith the infantry in dreamthe old general tossed in his sleepand wrestled with its meaninghe awoke from the nightjust to tell what he had seenand walked slowly out of his tent

all the men held tall with theirchests in the air, with courage intheir blood and a fire in their stareit was a grey morning and they allwondered how they would faretill the old general told them to go home

He said, I have seen the othersand I have discoveredthat this fight is not worth fightingI have seen their mothersand I will no otherto follow me where I'm going

So, take a shower, shine your shoesyou got no time to loseyou are young men you must be livingTake a shower, shine your shoesyou got no time to loseyou are young men you must be livinggo now you are forgiven

but the men stood fast with theirguns on their shoulders not knowingwhat to do with the contradicting ordersthe general said he would do his ownduty but would extend it no furtherthe men could go as they pleased

but not a man moved, their eyes gazed straight aheadtill one by onethey stepped back and not a word was saidand the old general was left with hisown words echoing in his headhe then prepared to fight